Evans said: “I wouldn’t fret about him taking another one. I know people might say, ‘how can you say that?’ but his penalty taking is normally so deadly.”

Ndjoli is a player Evans was keen to sign, wherever he ended up, having watched him play for Kilmarnock (where he was on loan last season) in the Scottish Premier League during his time out of work.

He said: “Eddie Howe (the Bournemouth manager) rang me up and said they would like this kid to be in League 1 in England. I knew I had two or three options in League 1 and I went up and watched him come off the bench at Ibrox. He had a bit inside him.

“I was told we would have to work with him, he has a lot of development to go, but he has a lot in the locker and we are pleased we brought him in.

“He is still developing, still learning. He will have gone home a little bit disappointed but we have tried our best to re-assure him.

“I worked hard to sign Mika. These kids we signed had multiple options and Gillingham isn’t the first draw when they get told several clubs are after you. I promised his mum I would look after him, I do that to every young player I sign.

“Young Jack Tucker didn’t have the best of days at Oxford last week but I put him on the pitch with a minute to go (against Southend) to show once again we have faith in a kid who I think will certainly play a lot higher than League 1.”